Iridium trichloride hydrate

UsesIridium(III) chloride hydrate is used to prepare other iridium compounds. It finds use as a catalyst for oxidation in presence of cerium(IV) and in the the manufacture of electrodes. Iridium(III) chloride is used in iridium electroplating, in making the standard meter bar of Paris and crucibles. It is used for high temperature electrical contacts, as hardening agent, in tipping pens and compass bearings and Pt/Ir spark plugs. It is used for medical, surgical or other patient oriented applications, MMO (mixed metal oxide) titanium electrode coatings and as a starting material for heterogeneous catalysts.

UsesIridium(III) chloride hydrate can be usually used for the preparation of other iridium compounds such as Vaska′s complex, trans-[IrCl(CO)(PPh3)2].

PreparationStep 1, Electrodissolution: Add hydrochloric acid solution 4 and iridium powder raw material 5 to U-shaped electrolytic cell I; The U-shaped electrolytic cell I is made of acid-resistant material, and non-metallic conductive electrode 2 is provided in the U-shaped electrolytic cell; The temperature of the hydrochloric acid in the electrolytic cell is controlled at 100-115°C, and an alternating current of 5-80 volts and 2-50 amperes is applied across the electrodes to perform constant voltage electrolysis until the iridium powder dissolves to form a chloroiridium acid aqueous solution; The hydrochloric acid is of analytical grade purity, and the concentration of hydrochloric acid is 8-12 mol/L; the weight ratio of hydrochloric acid to iridium powder is 3:1-100:1; The electrolysis time of the constant voltage electrolysis is 1-15 hours; Step 2, Filtration: Filter the obtained chloroiridium acid aqueous solution to filter out unreacted iridium powder; Step 3, Concentration: The filtered aqueous solution of chloroiridic acid is distilled to remove excess hydrochloric acid and water, yielding a concentrated chloroiridic acid solution. The iridium content of the concentrated chloroiridic acid solution is 1.0–3.5 mol/L. Step 4, Crystallization: The obtained concentrated chloroiridic acid solution is crystallized in a constant-temperature crystallization furnace at 90–125°C for 5–24 hours to obtain Iridium(III) chloride hydrate IrCl3 • 3H2O.